Colin Kaepernick Gives Up On His National Anthem Protest

Ford Springer | Contributor

Colin Kaepernick will reportedly stand for the national anthem next season — assuming the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback is picked up by another team and given the opportunity to be on the sidelines of another NFL game.

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

This week it was announced that Kaepernick would opt out of his contract with the 49ers and part ways with the San Francisco team. If he signs with another team, Kaepernick will no longer use the national anthem as a platform for his protest because he doesn’t want to take away from any “positive change” that he believes he created, according to ESPN.

The now former 49er began the 2016 football season sitting during the national anthem because he feels that minorities are oppressed in America. After his protest method was met with intense criticism for its disrespect to both the flag and the military, Kaepernick switched to kneeling during anthem.

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Despite his methods, the San Francisco quarterback refused to stand for all 16 regular-season games. The 49ers went 1-10 in the games in which Kaepernick was the starting quarterback.

It will interesting to see if another team takes a chance on a quarterback with that record and all the criticism that will follow him.